Multiple-spindle drilling machine

ABSTRACT

A multiple-spindle drilling machine is provided with a plurality of drilling spindle units each of which is driven from a common power supply means but which are readily adjustable longitudinally and normal to the drilling spindle axis to provide a multiplicity of drilling patterns as the plurality of units are advanced simultaneously to accomplish a drilling operation. A plurality of drilling spindle units may be adjustably mounted on a common support in a horizontal row and additional horizontal rows may be provided having the identical or different lateral spacing therebetween. The horizontal rows of spindles may be disposed parallel to each other or may be inclined relative to each other.

United States Patent Suizu [151 3,682,560 [4 1 Aug. 8, 1972 MULTIPLE-SPINDLE DRILLING MACHINE Inventor: Kanichi Suizu, Kobe, Japan Assigneez Kawashi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

V Kobe-shi, Hyogo,.lapan May 21, 1970 Int. Cl. ..B23b 31/18 Field of Search ..408/46, 48, 53, 88, 42, l 17 Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT A multiple-spindle drilling machine is provided with a plurality of drilling spindle units each of which is driven from a common power supply means but which are readily adjustable longitudinally and normal to the drilling spindle axis to provide a multiplicity of drilling patterns as the plurality of units are advanced simultaneously to accomplish a drilling operation. A plurality of drilling spindle units may be adjustably mounted on a common support in a horizontal row and addi- 5 m- Cited tional horizontal rows may be provided having the identical or different lateral spacing therebetween. UNITED STATES PATENTS The horizontal rows of spindles may be disposed 1 977 202 10/1934 Palkowski et al ..408/46 x Parallel each may be inclined relative 2,289,855 7/1942 Ralston ..408/46X each 3,529,496 9/1970 Haley ..408/48 7Cl 12Dra Figures 3,124,017 3/1964 Brainard etal. ..408/46X ms mg l8 14 l -I 20 .t 28 30 32 I 28 I I I I i 22 FIG. 30

SHEU 1 OF 3 PATENTEDAUB 81972 FIG. I

PRIOR ART HG. M

INVENTOR KANICHI SUIZU BY 7 zmmee;

Zn MWQK ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAus 8 m2 SHEU 3 0F 3 1 MULTIPLE-SPINDLE DRILLING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drill head according to the present invention having a plurality of drill units disposed parallel in one row.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a drill head similar to This invention relates to a multiple-spindle drilling 5 that shown in 4 but also movable in the Vertical machine and more particularly a drilling machine which is adapted to drill a plurality of hole patterns by adjustably mounting the individual spindles and by selectively moving individual spindles into and out of operative drilling position.

2. Prior Art Prior multiple-spindle drilling machines were capable of simultaneously drilling a plurality of grouped holes. Such machines were sometimes capable of providing a variation in the lateral spacing of the drilling spindles along a line normal, to the drilling spindles. However, the prior machines did not provide for automatically advancing and retracting the individual drilling spindles into and out of drilling position prior to advancing the common support member during a drilling operation. It was usually necessary to physically remove or attach spindles in the desired location and as a result, such machines were only efficient when it was wished to drill a group of holes having the same number and disposition over and over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional multiple-spindle drilling machine and provides a new and improved multiple-spindle drilling machine which may drill a plurality of different groups of holes which may vary as to number, location and angle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multiple-spindle drilling machine having a plurality of spindle units, each of which is slidably mounted on a common base portion in a direction normal to the axis of each spindle. Each spindle may be individually advanced and retracted into and out of operative position and a feeding mechanism is provided for feeding the base plate in the direction of the axes of the spindles whereby holes will be drilled only at those locations corresponding to a spindle unit which has been advanced into operative position.

The present invention also provides for drilling a plurality of horizontal parallel rows of holes wherein the spacing of the holes in each row may be the same or different in the direction normal to the axis of the spindle. Furthermore, the axes of the spindle units in one horizontal row may be disposed at an angle with respect to the axes of the spindle units in another horizontal row.

The other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view of a multiple spindle head of a prior art conventional multiple-spindirection.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drill head according to the present invention having a plurality of drill units disposed in parallel in upper and lower rows.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drill head according to the present invention having a plurality of drill units disposed in parallel in upper and lower rows on separate base plates.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of two vertically disposed drilling units arranged on a common base.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a modified arrangement for mounting the two vertically disposed drilling units.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a further modification of the arrangement of the two vertically disposed drilling units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art multiple-spindle drilling machine which is capable of simultaneously drilling a plurality of grouped holes. A motor 12 is mounted on the drilling head 14 and is provided with an output gear 16 on the drive shaft thereof. The gear 16 is disposed in mesh with a plurality of circumferentially disposed gears 18 mounted on shafts 20. A plurality of spindles 22 are mounted along a slot 24 in the head 14 and provide the drive for a plurality of drilling units 26. The drive is transmitted to the spindles 22 from the shaft 20 by means of universal joints 28 and telescopicly splined shaft members 30 and 32. Thus, all of the drill units 26 were operated simultaneously and such an arrangement was efficient if the exact same holes were to be drilled every time. However, if the machine were to drill a number of holes in a group different from a previous group, the drills had to be physically removed or attached each time which resulted in a gross inefficiency. If a significant variation in the grouping and number of the holes were desired, it often became necessary to drill each hole one by one.

FIG. 2 shows one example of a workpiece 40, having a plurality of different hole groupings therein which may efficiently be achieved by the machine of the present invention. The hole groups 41, 42 and 43 are shown schematically in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C respectively. In order to drill the holes in group 41, all eight drilling spindles a-h would be disposed in operative drilling position on the base plate and the eight holes would be drilled simultaneously as the base plate was advanced. In order to drill the hole group 42, only units a and f would be disposed in operative position and the remaining units would be retracted to inoperative position prior to advancement of the base plate. Likewise, in order to drill the hole group 43, drilling units a, b, e, and f would be disposed in operative position and the remaining drilling units would be retracted prior to advancement of the base plate. The ease in which such a selective disposition of the drilling units may be achieved will now be described with respect to the specific apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a drilling apparatus having a plurality of drill units disposed in parallel in a single horizontal row.

The drilling apparatus is comprised of an electric motor 51 which drives a main gear 52 disposed in mesh with a plurality of auxillary driving gears'53. A displaceable member such as a flexible shaft 57 or a combination of universal joints and splined shafts are provided for connecting each gear 53 of the rotary drive portion to a spindle 56 in each drilling unit 55. Each drilling unit 55 is comprised of a base 20 which is slidably mounted on a base plate 60 by'means of a tongue and groove connection. A plurality of the drilling units 55 may be mounted side by side on the base plate 60 and freely adjusted thereon with respect to each other to determine the correct spacing of the holes to be drilled. ONce the drilling units 55 are disposed in the proper position, they may be secured in place by tightening a pair of nuts (not shown) slidably engaged in T-shaped grooves 62 formed in the base plate and a pair of complementary bolts 61 extending through the base member 70 of each drilling unit 55. The base plate 60 is slidably mounted on a main base member 63 for movement in a direction parallel to the spindles. I

A plurality of spindle feeding mechanisms 68 are associated with each of the drilling units 55 for advancing the spindles along their axes. An additional feeding mechanism 69 is also provided for advancing the base plate 60 in the same direction so as to simultaneously advance all of the drilling units 55 to perform a drilling operation. The spindle feeding mechanisms 68 and the feeding mechanism 69 are comprised of hydraulic oil pressure cylinders 64 and 65 respectively and solenoid switching valves 66 and 67 respectively. A plurality of flexible tubes 82 and 83 are provided for connecting the cylinder 64 and 65 to the valves 66 and 67 respectively so that the command from a punched tape will actuate the solenoid valves by suitable relay means to first select the desired drilling unit 55 and forward it into operative position and thereafter operate the solenoid switching-valve 67 so as to automatically advance the base plate 60 to perform a drilling operation. The spindle feeding mechanism 68 and the feeding mechanism 69 may also utilize a screw and nut drive or a rack and pinion type drive in order to carry out the advancing and retracting movements.

In the operation of the drilling apparatus, if it is desired to drill a single row of holes having a predetermined spacing, the drilling units 55 are first moved so as to align the spindles with the desired hole arrangement and secure the drilling units to the base plate 60. Then only those drilling units 55 corresponding to the hole arrangement of the desired hole group are forwarded by the hydraulic oil pressure cylinders 64 and subsequently hydraulic oil pressure cylinder 65 is operated so as to advance the base plate 60 to drill the desired hole group simultaneously. After the completion of the drilling operation, the workpiece may be removed or the drilling apparatus according to the present invention may be shifted so as to prepare for the next drilling operation, at which time the above steps will be repeated.

FIG. 5 shows a drilling apparatus very similar to that shown in FIG. 4, but additionally providing for the vertical movement of the drilling units. In this device, the base plate 60 is mounted on a main base portion having vertically disposed sliding portions 71 at both sides of the main base for guiding the main base in a vertical direction. The sliding portion 71 is in the form of a tongue and is slidably mounted in a complementary guide groove 73 formed in a stand 72. An hydraulic oil pressure cylinder 74, is provided on the lower surface at the center of the main base portion for moving the main base portion and all of the drilling units mounted thereon in a vertical direction. Thus, in the operation of this drilling apparatus, when it is desired to drill a hole arrangement having upper and lower rows of holes, the drilling apparatus will first drill one row and be vertically shifted so as to drill the other row of the hole arrangement.

FIG. 6 shows a drilling apparatus having a plurality of drill units disposed in parallel in upper and lower rows. The lower row of drilling units and the means for supporting, driving and advancing the drilling units in this row are identical to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6. An upper row of drilling units, each of which is generally designated by 76 are mounted on top of a corresponding drilling unit 55 in the lower row and connected thereto by means of bolts 75. Thus, in this arrangement, a hole arrangement consisting of two rows of holes may be drilled simultaneously without shifting the base plate 60 in the vertical direction.

The detailed structure of the additional drilling units 76 is best shown in FIG. 10. A fluid cylinder 77 is mounted within the drilling unit 76 and a piston 79 is slidably arranged therein for reciprocating movement in response to fluid pressure selectively applied through conduits 85 or 86 to opposite sides of the enlarged piston head within the cylinder 77. The spindle 56 is connected to a slidable quill shaft 78 which is mounted for sliding movement parallel to the cylinder 77. The piston 79 and the quill shaft 78 are connected together for conjoint movement by means of a connecting plate 80. The flexible drive shaft 57 is led into and extends through the quill shaft 78 to rotate the drill 58 mounted on the spindle 56. In operation, when pressure is applied through conduit 85, the piston 79 will be extended and the spindle 56 will be retracted into an inoperative position so that upon advancing movement of the entire drilling assembly by means of the feeding mechanism 69, a hole will not be drilled at that particular location. Spacers 81 may be provided between the lower drilling units 55 and the upper drilling units 76 so as to vary the vertical distance between the two vertically disposed holes. The spacing units 81 may even be wedge shaped so as to vary the pitch of the upper drilling unit with respect to the lower drilling unit.

Furthermore, one or more additional drilling units may be vertically mounted upon the upper drilling unit 76 in the same manner in which the drilling unit 76 is mounted on the lower drilling unit 55 so that any number of vertically aligned holes may be drilled simultaneously.

The present invention also contemplates the use of two or more drilling units similar to drilling units 76 disposed in vertical relationship. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower drilling unit 76' would be provided with a suitable tongue for sliding in the groove in the base plate 60. Likewise, as shown in FIG. 9, the drilling unit 55 may be provided with a plane base for mounting on top of a drilling unit 76 which in turn is slidably mounted in the base plate 60. Also, in FIG. 8, the drilling unit 55' may be mounted vertically on top of the drilling unit 55.

In each of the above-described arrangements where two drilling units are vertically mounted on top of each other, the spindles must be vertically aligned and therefore the holes in the vertical row must be in vertical alignment. In order to stagger the holes laterally in a vertical row, the arrangement as shown in FIG. 7 may be utilized. A plurality of drilling units 55 are slidably arranged on a base member 60 similar to the arrangement previously described with respect to FIG. 6 and a second row of drilling units 55 are also slidably mounted on a base plate 60' in the same manner. The base plates 60 and 60' are spaced apart in the vertical direction sufficient to provide adequate clearance for the'lower row of drilling units 55 and are held in spaced relationship by means of a pair of vertical end support plates 84. Thus, the drilling units in each horizontal row may be adjusted in a manner to provide for the drilling two rows of holes wherein the holes in the upper row are not necessarily vertically aligned with the holes in the lower row. It is also contemplated that additional rows could be added in the same manner to drill three or more horizontal rows of holes simultaneously.

In all of the arrangements described above wherein a plurality of units are mounted in vertically disposed relationship, the locking groove 62 in the base plate 60 is generally located on the side of the base plate 60 so that the nut and bolt arrangement for locking the drilling unit to the base plate will be accessible from the side of the drilling unit, rather than from the top as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, the drilling apparatus according to the present invention provides for drilling a plurality of different hole groups having unusual configurations and also provides for changing from one hole pattern to another with a minimum amount of effort. It is also understood that the drilling units according to the present invention, may be very narrow in the lateral direction as compared with a conventional machine which has bulky gear mechanisms therein. For example; if the drilling units are disposed adjacent each other the minimum distance between the holes may be as small as 3.5 times the diameter of the drill.

-What is claimed is:

l. A multiple spindle drilling machine comprising a main base, a base plate slidably mounted on said main base, a plurality of drilling units each having support means and spindle means, said spindle means being rotatably and movably mounted on said support means in parallel to each other and being reciprocable along the axis of rotation thereof relative to said base plate, each of said units being slidably mounted on said base plate formovement transverse to said axis of rotation, means for selectively reciprocating each of said spindle means relative to said support means into and out of operative position and means for shifting said base plate on said main base in a direction parallel to said spindles to simultaneously advance and retract said units during a drilling operation.

2. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising guide means on said main base and said base plate for guiding said base plate in the vertical direction and means for vertically reciprocating said base plate along said guide means.

3. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for locking each of said drilling units to said base plate at any desired posi- EIA multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an additional drilling unit secured to said each first mentioned drilling units in vertical alignment therewith.

5. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an additional base plate secured to and disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned base plate and a plurality of drilling units slidably mounted thereon for movement transverse to said axis of rotation.

6. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocating each of said spindle means is comprised of cylinder means mounted on said support means, piston means reciprocable therein in opposite directions of the influence of pressurized fluid and means connecting said piston and spindle means for conjoint movement.

7. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising unitary drive means and a plurality of drive train means connected to said unitary drive means and each of said spindle means for imparting rotary motion to said spindle means. 

1. A multiple spindle drilling machine comprising a main base, a base plate slidably mounted on said main base, a plurality of drilling units each having support means and spindle means, said spindle means being rotatably and movably mounted on said support means in parallel to each other and being reciprocable along the axis of rotation thereof relative to said base plate, each of said units being slidably mounted on said base plate for movement transverse to said axis of rotation, means for selectively reciprocating each of said spindle means relative to said support means into and out of operative position and means for shifting said base plate on said main base in a direction parallel to said spindles to simultaneously advance and retract said units during a drilling operation.
 2. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising guide means on said main base and said base plate for guiding said base plate in the vertical direction and means for vertically reciprocating said base plate along said guide means.
 3. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for locking each of said drilling units to said base plate at any desired position.
 4. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an additional drilling unit secured to said each first mentioned drilling units in vertical alignment therewith.
 5. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an additional base plate secured to and disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned base plate and a plurality of drilling units slidably mounted thereon for movement transverse to said axis of rotation.
 6. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocating each of said spindle means is comprised of cylinder means mounted on said support means, piston means reciprocable therein in opposite directions of the influence of pressurized fluid and means connecting said piston and spindle means for conjoint movement.
 7. A multiple spindle drilling machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising unitary drive means and a plurality of drive train means connected to said unitary drive means and each of said spindle means for imparting rotary motion to said spindle means. 